1979 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979): Difference between revisions

Revision as of 11:23, 26 April 2022

This article has been tagged as NSFL due to its discussion of a fatal motor racing accident.

Program for the race.

Status: Lost

The 1979 Atlanta 500 was the 5th race of the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series. Occurring on 18th March at the Atlanta Motor Speedway, the race would ultimately be won by pole sitter Buddy Baker in an Oldsmobile. However, the event is overshadowed by the death of Dennis Wade, a crewman that was fatally struck by Dave Watson's Chevrolet as it went out of control on the pit road.

Background

The 1979 Atlanta 500 was the 20th running of the event, with the race traditionally being around 500 miles in length.^[1] It was one of two 1979 Winston Cup Series races conducted at Atlanta Motor Speedway,^[2] the other being the Dixie 500,^[1] which in 1979 occurred on 7th November and was won by Neil Bonnett in a Mercury.^[3] The Atlanta 500 also has ties to the modern Quaker State 400, which resumed the event at a 400 mile length in 2021 after not being held from 2011-2020.^[4]^[5]

Prior to the race, qualifying commenced with Buddy Baker winning the pole position with a speed of 165.951 mph.^[6] Directly behind him was Bobby Allison in a Ford, with Chevrolet driver Benny Parsons occupying the third position.^[6] Dave Watson qualified 18th out of the 40 race competitors.^[6]

The Race

With the starting order decided, the 1979 Atlanta 500 occurred on 18th March.^[6] Baker led the first two laps,^[6] though it became clear Allison would be his biggest rival, as they led the majority of the first 114 laps,^[6] with them especially being competitive in the first 47 laps.^[7] This was disrupted as Oldsmobile driver Richard Petty spun out, forcing a caution.^[7] The first pitstops began, and Watson elected to stay out, thus giving him the lead for six laps.^[7]^[6] Following the fatal accident of Dennis Wade, Cale Yarborough in an Oldsmobile took over as leader,^[6] although ultimately the race would be between Baker and Allison for the final stretch.^[7] Mercury driver David Pearson also remained in contention until lap 299 where he retired due to an engine failure.^[6]

On lap 305, Baker passed Allison to move into the first position, and remained there for the final 23 laps.^[6] He built a sizeable gap over his opponents, finishing 28 seconds ahead of Allison to claim his first victory since May 1976, and $30,525 in prize money.^[7] Allison nevertheless received a consolation $10,000 in addition to the $30,525, after having led the most laps at 166.^[7] In third was Darrell Waltrip in a Chevrolet.^[6]^[7] Post-race, Allison stated that his Ford Thunderbird lost a cylinder following the final pit stop, which he claims was why he could not keep up with Baker.^[7]

Death of Dennis Wade

On lap 124,^[6] Watson, who had managed to lead six laps after staying out, elected to pit as the car ran out of fuel.^[8]^[7] As the car was approaching, crewman Dennis Wade jumped over the pit wall carrying a heavy hydraulic jack, so that he and others could prepare to service the car.^[7]^[8] Watson began to approach his pit stall when suddenly the rear wheels locked.^[7]^[8] Because it had no power, the car had virtually no control, resulting in the car locking up and spinning as Watson attempted to gear down.^[7] As the car spun towards him, Wade froze, and according to NASCAR official Ray Hill, "had nowhere to go".^[7] The out of control Chevrolet Monte Carlo then proceeded to plough into Wade at around 50 mph, knocking him 100 feet through the air.^[8]^[7]

Wade was immediately taken to the local hospital, with a distraught Watson immediately retiring from the race and electing to travel with his crew to the hospital.^[8]^[7] Ultimately, Wade passed away from his injuries aged 18, becoming the first racing-related death at the raceway.^[7]^[8] Following the death of his crewman, Watson made the decision to never race in the Cup Series again, although he would later compete in other categories.^[8]

Availability

According to NASCAR on TV, ABC televised 30 minutes of highlights on 24th March 1979 as part of its Wide World of Sports alongside the World Target Diving Championships and World Championship Motorcycles.^[9] It is unknown whether any of the televised contained the fatal accident, though it would become the first Atlanta 500 since 1969 to be broadcast on tape-delay.^[9] As of the present day, the ABC coverage has yet to resurface, and no footage of the race is currently publicly accessible. Nevertheless, a few photographs, including of the fatal accident, have resurfaced.

Gallery

Images

Baker during the race.
Baker celebrating his win.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 Racing Circuits documenting the Atlanta 500 and the Dixie 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ Racing-Reference detailing the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1979 Dixie 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ NASCAR linking the Atlanta 500 with the Quaker State 400. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ Beyond the Flag noting Atlanta 500 being removed from the 2011 schedule. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ ^6.00 ^6.01 ^6.02 ^6.03 ^6.04 ^6.05 ^6.06 ^6.07 ^6.08 ^6.09 ^6.10 ^6.11 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results of the event. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ ^7.00 ^7.01 ^7.02 ^7.03 ^7.04 ^7.05 ^7.06 ^7.07 ^7.08 ^7.09 ^7.10 ^7.11 ^7.12 ^7.13 ^7.14 ^7.15 The New York Times reporting on Baker winning the race and the death of Wade. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ ^8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 ^8.5 ^8.6 The Crash Photos Database detailing the death of Wade. Retrieved 7 Mar '22
↑ ^9.0 ^9.1 NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[circuit-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Racing Circuits documenting the Atlanta 500 and the Dixie 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[2] Racing-Reference detailing the 1979 NASCAR Winston Cup Series calendar. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[3] Racing-Reference detailing the results of the 1979 Dixie 500. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[4] NASCAR linking the Atlanta 500 with the Quaker State 400. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[5] Beyond the Flag noting Atlanta 500 being removed from the 2011 schedule. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[results-6] 6.00 ^6.01 ^6.02 ^6.03 ^6.04 ^6.05 ^6.06 ^6.07 ^6.08 ^6.09 ^6.10 ^6.11 Racing-Reference detailing qualifying and race results of the event. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[nyt-7] 7.00 ^7.01 ^7.02 ^7.03 ^7.04 ^7.05 ^7.06 ^7.07 ^7.08 ^7.09 ^7.10 ^7.11 ^7.12 ^7.13 ^7.14 ^7.15 The New York Times reporting on Baker winning the race and the death of Wade. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[cpdb-8] 8.0 ^8.1 ^8.2 ^8.3 ^8.4 ^8.5 ^8.6 The Crash Photos Database detailing the death of Wade. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

[nascar-9] 9.0 ^9.1 NASCAR on TV detailing the ABC broadcast of the race. Retrieved 7 Mar '22

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 ==See Also==
-*[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
+*[[1960 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1960)]]
-*[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]
+*[[1960 Daytona Races (lost CBS and NBC televised footage of NASCAR prelude events to Daytona 500; 1960)]]
-*[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
+*[[1961 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1961)]]
-*[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
+*[[1962 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
-*[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
+*[[1962 Firecracker 250 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1962)]]
-*[[1964 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
+*[[1963 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1963)]]
-*[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
+*[[1963 Richmond 250 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session and race; 1963)]]
-*[[1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman race; 1969)]]
+*[[1964 Atlanta 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
-*[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
+*[[1964 National 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
-*[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
+*[[1964 Richmond 250 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series qualifying session; 1964)]]
-*[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
+*[[1964 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1964)]]
-*[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1965 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
-*[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1965 National 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
-*[[1972 Twin 125s (partially found footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1972)]]
+*[[1965 Rebel 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1965)]]
-*[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
+*[[1966 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
-*[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
+*[[1966 Southern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1966)]]
-*[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
+*[[1967 Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
-*[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
+*[[1967 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1967)]]
-*[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
+*[[1969 Permatex 300 at Daytona (partially found footage of NASCAR Late Model Sportsman race; 1969)]]
-*[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
+*[[1970 Alabama 500 (found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
-*[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1970 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
-*[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1970 Wilkes 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
-*[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1970 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand National Series race; 1970)]]
+*[[1971 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
+*[[1971 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
+*[[1971 Myers Brothers 250 (lost footage and official documents of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
+*[[1971 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
+*[[1971 Rebel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1971)]]
+*[[1971 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1971)]]
+*[[1972 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1972 Bowman-Gray 100 (lost footage of NASCAR Grand American Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1972 Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1972 Daytona 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1972 Firecracker 400 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1972 National 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1972 Rebel 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1972)]]
+*[[1972 Twin 125s (partially found footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1972)]]
+*[[1973 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
+*[[1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1973)]]
+*[[1974 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
+*[[1974 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1974)]]
+*[[1974 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1974)]]
+*[[1975 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
+*[[1975 Dixie 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
+*[[1975 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
+*[[1975 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
+*[[1975 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; 1975)]]
+*[[1975 World 600 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1975)]]
+*[[1976 Atlanta 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 Champion Spark Plug 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 Dixie 500 (lost CBS footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 Firecracker 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 Rebel 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 Riverside 400 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 Talladega 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 Winston 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1976 World 600 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1976)]]
+*[[1978 NAPA National 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1978)]]
+*[[1979 Daytona ARCA 200 (lost footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1979)‎]]
+*[[1979 Dixie 500 (lost ABC footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1979)]]
+*[[1979 Gabriel 400 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
 *[[1979 Southeastern 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1979)]]
-*[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
+*[[1979 Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1979)]]
-*[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
+*[[1981 Coca-Cola 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]
-*[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)‎]]
+*[[1981 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1981)]]
-*[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
+*[[1982 CRC Chemicals 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1982)]]
-*[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
+*[[1982 Eastern 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]
-*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
+*[[1982 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1982)]]
+*[[1982 Twin 125s race 1 (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
+*[[1982 Winston Western 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1982)]]
+*[[1983 Goody's Sportsman 300 (partially found footage of NASCAR Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series race; 1983)]]
+*[[1983 Mason-Dixon 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1983)]]
+*[[1983 Southern 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1983)]]
+*[[1984 Delaware 500 (partially found footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1984)]]
+*[[1984 Goody's Sportsman 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1984)]]
+*[[1984 Warner W. Hodgdon Carolina 500 (lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; existence unconfirmed; 1984)‎]]
+*[[1985 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1985)]]
+*[[1986 Twin 125s (lost footage of NASCAR Daytona 500 qualifying races; existence unconfirmed; 1986)]]
+*[[1988 Miller High Life 500 (partially lost footage of NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1988)]]
+*[[1989 Busch Clash (lost footage of pre-season NASCAR Winston Cup Series race; 1989)]]
+*[[1990 Daytona ARCA 200 (partially found footage of ARCA Racing Series race; 1990)]]
+*[[1992 Atlanta 300 (lost footage of NASCAR Busch Grand National Series race; 1992)]]
+*[[1995 Winston 100/1995 Duron Paints And Wallcoverings 100 (partially found footage of NASCAR Sportsman Division Series doubleheader; 1995)]]
+*[[1996 DeVilbiss SuperFinish 200 (partially found televised footage of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race; 1996)]]
+*[[2002 K&N Filters 150 (lost footage of NASCAR Featherlite Southwest Tour race; 2002)]]
+*[[Jason Leffler (lost footage of fatal 410 Sprint Car accident; 2013)]]
+*[[Jeff Gordon's 2008 UAW-Dodge 400 crash (lost on-board footage of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race crash; 2008)]]
+*[[NASCAR (partially found uncut footage of stock car races; 1960-present)]]
 ==References==